(IPYS/IFEX) – On 1 September 2005, Judge José Alonso Beltrame Júnior, of the Tenth Santos Civil Court, in Sao Paulo state, issued an order prohibiting “A Tribuna” newspaper from reporting on a court case involving the misappropriation of public funds. The local paper faces a fine of 50,000 reais (approx. US$21,000) each time it defies […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 1 September 2005, Judge José Alonso Beltrame Júnior, of the Tenth Santos Civil Court, in Sao Paulo state, issued an order prohibiting “A Tribuna” newspaper from reporting on a court case involving the misappropriation of public funds. The local paper faces a fine of 50,000 reais (approx. US$21,000) each time it defies the order.
In August, “A Tribuna” reported extensively on an investigation by the Special Audit Committee into the diversion of funds by the Santos Prefecture. As a result of the investigation, Sonia María Precioso de Moura, a government official at the prefecture, was accused of having embezzled more than US$700,000 by diverting it into phantom accounts. Precioso’s lawyer subsequently argued that the legal proceedings should be kept confidential and asked Judge Beltrame Júnior to place restrictions on the press.
Judge Beltrame Júnior’s order was condemned by the National Newspaper Association (Associação Nacional de Jornais, ANJ). “A Tribuna” plans to appeal the decision.
The Brazilian Investigative Journalism Association (Associação Brasileira de Jornalismo Investigativo, ABRAJI) also condemned the measure. Commenting on a similar case in the past, the association had noted that “government officials are responsible for maintaining confidentiality as concerns legal or administrative matters and are subject to penalties under the law if they reveal official secrets. It is not the responsibility of the press to maintain this secrecy.” ABRAJI also stressed the important role the press plays in uncovering information that is in the public interest.
This alert was prepared by IPYS with information provided by ABRAJI.
